Move to improve road safety for secondary school pupils

Safety for Forfar Academy pupils is set to improve with the inroduction of a new school crossing patrol and traffic waiting restrictions on Market Street in the town.

The move, agreed by Angus Council’s communities committee, follows several incidents involving youngsters and vehicles including one in which a pupil was knocked down.

New parking restrictions will also be introduced on the south side of Market Street, between North Street and John Street, where the crossing patrol will be placed. In his report to the committee, Ian Cochrane, head of technical and property services, said the ideal spot had been identified at a site meeting involved roads officers and members of the education depatment.

It will, however, result in the loss of six parking spaces on the south side of the street as “no waiting at any time” restrictions will also be introduced.

Mr Cochrane said: “Other locations directly either side of the nearby junctions were considered but discounted on safety grounds.”

The council will also tackle the increase in congenstion around Forfar Sheriff Court by introducing further restrictions. Since the closure of Abroath Sheriff Court last May, Forfar has seen a dramatic increase in business, resulting in an increase in traffic and parked vehicles which have caused congestion.

Mr Cochrane said: “The limited amount of off-street car parking provision at the court is inadequate and has overspilled on to Market Street. There are now regular instances of parking on both sides of Market Street between John Street and Castle Street. To relieve the current unsuitable situation the introduction of ‘no waiting at any time’ restrictions is appropriate.”

Both measures have been welcomed by local councillor Lynne Devine, who said there has been a number of incidents over the last few months.

She added: “It’s a bad junction and there’s a lot of heavy traffic which is also a problem, but I’m pleased that something has been done. I look forward to that being done as quickly as possible.”